Charles h



H. HELL ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED M2030, 191s.

Patented Dec. 2, 191% "Fi cg.

Fig.3.

Inventor-2 Cbrles l-l. Hil I,

H i s t cor eg.

- UNITED STATES PAT OFFICE.

' CHARLES H. HILL, 0F SCHENECTA'DY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB, TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC SWITCH;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 2, 1919..

' Circuit breakers heretofore known in theart have been held closed by a form of latching means which when subjected to jars and shocks, have been readily moved to release the circuit breakers and permit them to open. Particular instances of such excessive jars ma be mentioned those occurring on battleships and similar way craft due to striking of shells and when firing heavy guns and especially broadsides. Under these conditions, circuit breakers of the type known to the prior art, when used on board ship to control signals, ammunition hoists and similar important apparatus have proved worthless as such'breakers are jarred open and severely orlpple servlce.

The novel and improved form of circuit breaker embodying my invention overcomes these limitations of circuit breakers heretofore known and comprises a latching means which is positively held in latching position comprising a main and auxiliary latching mechanism adapted to remain in latching position unaffected by shocksor vibrationsin more than one plane or direc-' tion.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my invention will be definitely indicated in the claims appended hereto, while the features of construction and mode of operation will be understood by reference to the following description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawing, which shows the preferred embodiments of my invention and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a circuit breaker embodying my invention shown in circuitclosing position; Fig. 2 is a view of aportion of the breaker shown in Fig. 1, in circuit opening position, andaFigs. 3

and 4 are front views of a portion of the circuit breaker, showing the latching means inlatching and released positions respectively.

lin Fig. l, the circuit breaker is shown as comprising stationary main contacts 1 and 2 with which a movable current carrying member 3 cooperates to controlthe circuit through the breaker. Asis usual .in such devices, the breaker is also provided with cooperating secondary and tertiary contacts 4: and 5 to take the arc as the breaker opens. The circuit breaker is also provided with an operating member 6 which controls the current carrying member 3 through a suitable mechanism 7.

For restraining the circuit breaker in circuit closin position, I provide a novel and improved s ock proof latching means which is unaffected by jars in more than one plane or direction. This latching means comprises a main latching means or mechanism for restraining the circuit breaker which is unresponsive or unaffected by shocks or jars in one plane or direction and a secondary or auxiliary latching means cooperating with the main latching means to prevent the release thereof from jars or shocks in another plane or direction, that is, the main and secondary latching means are so arranged that, irrespective of the direction of the shock, the two latching means can never be simultaneously jarred unlatched. The main latching means is thereby restrained or held in position by the auxiliary latching meansand the circuit breaker held closed thereby.

The main latching means comprises a pivotally supported member-or arm 8 preferably carried by the member 9 for the current carrying member 3. The arm 8 carries, preferably at one end thereof, a pivot member being biased in this position. The arm 8 also carries, preferably integral therewith, an extended portion or finger 13 which cooperates with the dog or pawl 10, as will be later described. The opposite end of arm 8 is provided with a wide tail portion 14 carrying a lng 15.

Cooperating with the main latching means and particularly with the arm 8 is the auxiliary latching means comprising a pivotally mounted latching member 16, best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, movable in a plane substantially at right angles to the plane of ,movement of arm 8 and pivotally supported on a bracket or arm 17 carried by a member secured to the support or base. This latching member 16 is provided with a pin 18, having preferably a roller bearing support, with a. shoulder 19 cooperative to move arm 8 into releasing position and with a latching arm 20 adapted to engage with the lug on the tail 14 of arm 8 to restrain the arm 8 and hence the main latching means in latching position.

The latching member 16 is adapted to be moved to releasing position either automatically or by hand, for hand operation the member 16 being provided with a handle portion 21." For automatic release of the latching means, an electroresponsive device is provided, responsive to predetermined ab normal conditions in the circuit of the breaker and comprising preferably a magnetic yoke 22 operatively related to one terminal or stud of the circuit breaker and controlling a movable armature or tripping member 23 as is well known in the art. Pin

18 of latching member 16 is adapted to ex-- tend into the path of movement of arm-a ture 23 so that upon the movement of the armature to tripping position, as shoWnin Fig. 4, the pin 18, by means of the roller support, rides along the surface of the armature to rock the latching member 16 about its pivot and cause latching arm 20 to move outof engagement with lug 15. Subsequent movement of the latching member 16 about its pivot causes shoulder 19 to engage the tail portion 14 of arm 8- to rock the arm about its pivot, thus causing the latching member 10 to move into a position to release the operating member 6. For releasing the latching means at will, the handle 21 is merely moved clockwise to rock the latching member 16 about its pivot, causing the felease of arm 8 as before described.

In moving the handle from switch opening (shown in Fig. 2) to switch closing position (shown in Fig. 1), the finger 13 on the arm 8 is provided to guide and assist the portion 11 of the operation member in the proper direction to come into latching engagement with the dog 10.

It is thus apparent with the main latch- 65 ing means comprising arm 8 and dog 10 replane of movement and also that the auxiliary latching means comprising member 16 with arm 20 restrain the main latching means and is unaffected by vibrations in its plane of movement which is at right angles to the plane of movement of the main latching means so that a circuit breaker is provided which is effectively maintained closed under the most excessive jarring and shocks, which can occur on shipboard.

What I claim'asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is,

1. In a circuit breaker, the combination with a movable current carrying member, of an operating member therefor, and latching means for rendering said operating member unaffected by jars or vibrations in more than oneplane and for holding said member in 85 circuit closing osition. 4 2. In a circuit breaker, the combination with a movable current carrying member, of an operating member therefor, and means for holding said member locked against vibrations in'two different planes and for holding said member in circuit closing position.

3. In a circuit breaker, the combination witha movable current carrying member, of an operating member therefor, and latching means for restraining'said operating member in circuit closing position comprising two cooperating latching mechanisms whose planes of movement are at substantially right angles.

4. In a circuit breaker, the combination with a movable current, carrying member, of an operatin member therefor, and means for restraining the breaker in circuit closing position comprising a main latching means cooperating with said operating member and unaffected .by vibrations in one plane, an auxiliary latching means for restraining said main latching means and unaffected by vibrations in another plane.

5. In a circuit breaker, the combination with a movable current carrying member, of an operating member therefor, amain latching means comprising a pivotally supported arm, and a latching pawl pivotally supported at one end of said arm and cooperating with said operating member to restrain said member in circuit closing position, and a movable latching member having a plane of movement, substantially at right angles to the plane of movement of said arm and cooperating to restrain said arm in latching position, said latching member being movable either automatically or at will to 126 releasing position.

6. In a circuit breaker, the combination with a movable current carrying member, of an operating member therefor, a main latching means cooperating with said operating 1 member to restrain said member in circuit closing position, and an auxiliary latching means in a plane substantially atright, angles to the plane of said main latching means for restraining said main latching means in latching position, and an electroresponsive means for moving said auxiliary latching means to releasing position, said auxiliary latching means being provided with means for moving said main latching 10 means to releasing position.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 28th day of December, 1918.

CHARLES H. HILL. 

